{"id":24613,"date":"2016-06-21T13:11:55","date_gmt":"2016-06-21T20:11:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=24613"},"modified":"2016-06-21T13:11:55","modified_gmt":"2016-06-21T20:11:55","slug":"philadelphia-congressman-associates-convicted-corruption","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=24613","title":{"rendered":"Philadelphia Congressman and Associates Convicted for Corruption"},"content":{"rendered":"

PHILADELPHIA<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

\"Courtroom\"A federal jury today found Congressman Chaka Fattah Sr<\/strong>., 59, guilty of all charges surrounding his efforts to \u00a0replay a $1 million campaign loan, according to officials.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fattah and three of his associates guilty of taking part in a racketeering conspiracy involving several schemes that were intended to further their political and financial interests by misappropriating federal, charitable and campaign funds, among other schemes.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fattah, Robert Brand, 70, of Philadelphia; Karen Nicholas, 58, of Williamstown, New Jersey; and Herbert Vederman,<\/strong> 70, of Palm Beach, Florida, were found guilty of participating in a racketeering conspiracy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fattah was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit honest services fraud, mail fraud, money laundering conspiracy, money laundering, bank fraud, false statements to a financial institution, six counts of mail fraud and five counts of falsification of records.<\/span><\/p>\n

Vederman was also convicted of conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, bank fraud, making false statements to the Credit Union Mortgage Association, falsification of records and two counts of money laundering.<\/span><\/p>\n

Brand was also convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nicholas was also convicted of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, two counts of wire fraud and two counts of falsification of records.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bonnie Bowser, 60, of Philadelphia, was acquitted of racketeering conspiracy but convicted of conspiracy to commit bribery, bank fraud, making false statements to the Credit Union Mortgage Association, falsification of records and money laundering.<\/span><\/p>\n

U.S. District Court Judge Harvey Bartle III scheduled sentencing hearings for Oct. 4 for Fattah, Vederman and Brand; and Oct. 5 for Nicholas and Bowser.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCongressman Fattah corruptly abused his office for his own personal and political gain,\u201d said Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell.<\/strong> \u201cHe took bribes, committed fraud and even stole money from his own campaigns. In short, Congressman Fattah and his co-defendants deprived the people of eastern Pennsylvania of their right to the honest services of their elected representative. “<\/span><\/p>\n

Adding, “Today\u2019s convictions should send a message that the Justice Department will vigorously investigate and prosecute political corruption wherever it takes place, and uphold the principles of honesty and integrity that are the foundation of our government.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n